A Christmas House Tour

Hi friends!  Merry Christmas!  Is it possible that it's only 10 days til Christmas?!  It is high time that I shared my Christmas decorations with you!  Georgia and I have been decking the halls for a few weeks now, getting everything 'just so' before we share the big reveal with you.  I hope this post puts you in the Christmas spirit and maybe gives you some ideas for your next Christmas decorating project!

Here we go:

The living room is trimmed with evergreen garland, red plaid bows and throws and twinkling lights over the windows.  I needed a high place to display my breakable ornaments, safe away from toddler hands, so I decided to add greenery to the tops of the windows and hang the glass ornaments from that.  I love the look and may continue it even after Georgia is older!

For the tree this year, I knew I was going to have to rethink my traditional decor.  Instead of ribbon which is too fussy for my redecorating toddler helper, I added red and green pom pom garland running vertically in the tree.  Then I added yarn pom poms in ivory, red and burgundy.  I made the red and burgundy ones after I bought the ivory ones from Hobby Lobby as inspiration!  I love it and think it suits our lifestyle this year.  Georgia loves to pull the pom poms off and throw them around.  She also likes the plastic candy ornaments.  Everything is hanging on the tree with string, no hooks.  I was afraid of what a hook could do if she took it off the ornament!  Any glass ornaments that I included are at the top, and so far nothing has been broken. :)

I added my red sleigh in front of the tree and filled it with presents.  Georgia likes to climb in the sleigh, so it's usually empty for her enjoyment. 

A couple of new ornaments this year are this glass hot air balloon ornament that my mom bought for Georgia. 

And the teapot Santa with his teacup full of cocoa.  These are collectibles from Hallmark that my aunt buys for Georgia every year! :)  Isn't it darling?

Over on the side cabinet, I made a gold and green arrangement with pinecones and eucalyptus.

For the dining room, I went with a simple arrangement in my antique toolbox.  It's filled with greenery, eucalyptus, gold sprigs, pinecones and red ornaments.

I hung my mother's collection of Shiny Brite ornaments over the china cabinet.  

I made this scroll artwork after spying on one Etsy.  Isn't it a neat idea?

In the kitchen, I kept things simple with a greenery centerpiece on the table and some LED cookie cutter lights around the window.

Downstairs in the den, the mantel is decorated with my collection of trees in silver, brown and burgundy.  The burgundy pillows and plaid blanket tie it all together.

I finally got around to making Georgia a stocking like ours.  Yay! :)  I can't wait to see her reaction to Christmas morning when she gets to open her gifts from Santa! 

She's been practicing by removing the bows and tags and sitting on some of the presents.  :)

She's also very interested in the nutcrackers.  I put my Nutcracker collection on display on the high shelf in her room and we have to play the music box Nutcracker every day.  :)  She loves it.

 This is what Christmas is all about. :)  Hope you are finding the joy in the season about this time, too.  Merry Christmas from the Horvaths!

A Horvath Halloween Costume Party

Hello friends!  I am just dropping in today to share our Halloween party pics with you!  I am a terrible blogger, but hopefully a good mother, as I just don't have much time for blogging these days with a toddler running around getting into trouble!!  :)  But, I couldn't let a Halloween season get by without at least sharing our party details.

This year I coerced my mother into letting us have the party at our house.  I figured it would be easier to decorate since I live here!  Well, Georgia didn't leave me much time, but I managed to deck the house in it's spookiest get-up, as usual.  I had to leave a lot of empty surfaces since she is getting tall and can clear a table rather quickly!  :)  We had a lot of friends and family join us for the soiree.  To save time I had everyone bring a dish to share, so we had a wide array of yummy treats.  Everyone had a fun time carving pumpkins and decorating their cupcakes with eyeballs and sprinkles!  The cupcake decorating station was the highlight of the party.  I was very impressed with how particular the kids were in placing all the sprinkles on their cupcake creations.  :)  

Here's a photo reel from the day:

The bats were out in full force, as usual, swooping down from the ceiling!

Skellyton was hiding in the corner of the dining room this year.  Apparently he had too much to drink and that light is just too bright. :)

I picked up a few new pillows this year from Joann's.  I may have a weakness for Halloween goodies!!

I taped the spiderweb on the front door again, and the deck doors, too.  I think it's a cool, cheap way to up your spooky factor!

As always, the mantel was my first decorating project.  I made a new banner that was inspired by Pinterest.  Then I layered in black, silver and gold items.  

The fireplace was filled with nearly all of our jack-o-lanterns and glittery pumpkins.  It was quite the display!

Mama came as a tavern wench, complete with beer stein! 

Abby was a vampire.  She definitely had the "Scariest Costume" with those fangs and freaky long nails!!

I was a mad scientist and Georgia, my little lab mouse.

Hannah was Dopey and Remi, Snow White.  Barrett was a UPS man complete with a package!  And Ruger was a hunter with his crossbow.

Hannah and Remi are the "Cutest Couple" for their Snow White and dwarf impression. :)  Love those apple tights!!

The boys had a blast decorating (and eating!) their cupcakes.

Our friends Brian and Meghna came as the Demon Deacon and a cheerleader and their kids Janak and Priya were Iron Man and a Princess. :)  I'm awarding Brian "Most Creative" for his mascot costume!  He sewed most of it himself!

Michael was a referee.  Georgia loves that whistle!

Laura was a deer and Mary, a prisoner.

Caroline was Queen of Hearts.

Lily and her friend Kelsey were dressed as ocelets from Minecraft.  

And I may be biased, but I think Georgia had the "Cutest Costume" in her little pink mouse outfit!  Those tights and shoes are so precious, I can't handle it!!

Even though my brother didn't wear a costume and I didn't get his picture, he deserves "Most Entertaining" for running around the yard and playing with Abby, Ava and Janak all night!  Thanks John!

We hope you had a Happy Halloween!  Now on to the holiday season!! :)